POLICE have begun searching a house in Coventry as part of the Nicola Payne investigation.

Detectives confirmed they had excavate the back garden at an address in Miles Meadow, Courthouse Green.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two men in connection with the case.

The men, aged 74 and 45 and from the Coventry area, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body.

Police say they have uncovered "significant areas of interest" on land near to where she went missing.

Det Chief Insp Matt Markham said that experts with metal detectors and cadaver dogs are likely to check the site later today and excavation work could start in areas off Purcell Road, Courthouse Green.

X-ray equipment will also continue to be deployed as police look to solve the 20-year mystery of what happened to Nicola, who vanished after leaving her boyfriend's home in Henley Green in 1991.

Det Chief Insp Markham said: "The search has been progressing well, we currently have around 25 to 30 officers working on the search and investigation into Nicola's disappearance.

"We are committed to investigating any new information with the aim of bringing closure to Nicola's family, who have endured a painful and traumatic 21 years since her disappearance."

Detectives say they are “extremely hopeful” the latest search will solve the 20-year-old mystery.

Forensic experts moved on to land next to Purcell Road, in Courthouse Green, in Coventry, early Tuesday morning after a fresh tip-off.

They continued work into the evening and were resuming their search again today.

Nicola vanished after leaving her boyfriend’s home, in Henley Green, in 1991 but has never been found.

Det Chief Insp Matt Markham said: “This investigation won’t go away.

“We will continue to review it.”

Operational support teams searching for Nicola started cutting back foliage on the park off Purcell Road, Courthouse Green, just after 8am.

Police sniffer dogs scoured the site and today pathologists and experts using state of the art equipment will focus on a piece of land in between two small wooded areas.

She was never seen again despite numerous tip-offs, searches and reported sightings.

The case has never been closed by police and Nicola’s parents Marilyn and John have continued to keep their daughter’s image in the public eye.

“For police and the people of Coventry the disappearance of Nicola Payne is ingrained in their memory,” Det Chief Insp Markham said.

“It’s a sad and tragic milestone in the history of Coventry. It means so much to get closure for her family.

“Many of the officers who were initially involved in investigating the disappearance have since retired.

“There’s a long standing desire, from the police and local community, to solve the mystery of her disappearance so we can bring that desperately needed closure to her family.

“They just want to know what happened to their daughter.

“She would have been 40 in January. Everybody feels passionate and everybody is extremely hopeful that we will find her.

“This investigation has always been there and is part of Coventry’s history.

"Mention Nicola’s name to anyone and they will know who she is and what it means.”

Anyone with information should contact Coventry Police on 101 and ask for Operation Blockley.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Neighbours talk of their shock after dig begins

PEOPLE living in Purcell Road spoke of their shock yesterday after a large area of land behind flats was sectioned off in the hunt for Nicola Payne.

Officers put a cordon up around the land on Monday evening before starting the search for clues yesterday morning.

Det Chief Insp Matt Markham said the huge trees that tower over the search area would have only been saplings when Nicola disappeared.

David Williams, 75, who has lived across the road from the area being searched by police since 1963, said: “It came as a bit of a shock – but then again we’re only about a mile away from where she disappeared.

“The area being searched has not really changed since 1991, apart from the trees are a lot bigger now.

“Like everyone in Coventry I remember the case well. I remember the day she went missing.

“It was extremely misty and that would have made it difficult for people to see her.

“I really hope they find her. Her parents deserve closure and she deserves to be laid to rest.”

David Stokes, 43, said: “I remember the day she went missing well - it was really foggy and just before Christmas.

“I was so shocked to think that someone could just disappear like that.

“So many people have walked their dogs on that area before so if she is found I’d be surprised.

“It must be soul destroying for her parents – to think of what they’ve been through for the last 20 years.”

Carl Swinburn, who lives in a block of flats overlooking the area being searched, said: “I hope she’s found. I had no idea what was going on when I saw the police cordon this morning.

“I turned on the TV and it was all over the news.”

Chief Insp Kerry Blakeman said police had been well received in the area and residents appreciated there would be some disruption during the search.